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• Be familiar with the unique aspects of that particular religious growth pro-gram when addressing the local organization because each religious body establishes its own set of guidelines. For example, the Protestant God and Country program is used by girls and boys whether or not they belong to a Girl Scout, Boy Scout or Camp Fire group (Sunday School youth are eligible to receive this award). This is very different from the Jewish programs where there are separate awards for the youth who are members of Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. versus Camp Fire Boys and Girls versus Boy Scouts of America. Some religions offer only the student curriculum, others offer counselor manuals and adult mentor programs as well. •The Interfaith Quick Reference Chart/Poster (see appendix A) lists the names, phone numbers and web pages of the organizations that administer the awards. Contact these organizations directly with any questions you might have. These organizations may also be able to provide lists of recipients who have already earned recognitions in your area. For example, P.R.A.Y. provides quarterly recipient reports listing all youth and adult recipients. These reports include name and address, troop number, church name and address, and pastor’s name. Councils can use these P.R.A.Y. reports to find out which churches may already be familiar with the religious recognitions programs. • The religious recognitions programs can be presented not only as opportunities for religious education, but also for ministry and outreach. For example, a faith community that offers the God and Country Mentor program for parents is ministering to the whole family, not just to the child. And a faith community that offers a religious recognitions class and publicizes it through the council newsletter might be reaching out to Girl Scouts of the same faith who do not have membership in a religious institution but are interested in earning their religious recognition. Choosing A Partnership Style Different types of partnerships are required when working with different religious institutions. Some are more formal and require a contract, others are less complex. Networking - This is the least complex. It involves sharing information and other non-financial resources. It means getting to know people in the religious community who are directly or indirectly involved with youth. These people are used as sources of information, and/or as access to other people or organizations who make decisions regarding the youth. Networking with ministerial associations, for example, is a simple type of partnership that can be developed by the Girl Scout council. Coordination - This type of partnership involves sharing information and
planning to assure that the activities of different organizations complement I-9 |